In practice, spoofing is used by hackers to achieve numerous goals, such as getting sensitive information from their targets, or gaining access to restricted digital environments from which they can launch additional attacks (such as ransomware) — and much more.

How does spoofing work?

It is possible to commit a wide variety of crimes by using information obtained through spoofing activities. Just imagine what a hacker or cybercriminal might do if they’re able to convincingly impersonate a company or another person.

A well-engineered spoof can take over the domain of an email or website to approach a possible victim, or gain access to internet protocols or IP addresses (which act as an identifier for computers connected to the network). Thus, it’s possible to have access to a person’s applications, get hold of their confidential data (whether personal or banking), and a spoofer can even send messages on their behalf.

This type of scam is not new, but its methods and purposes vary and increase every day.

What are the dangers of a spoofing attack?

With the possession of sensitive data, criminals can carry out a series of financial transactions using the spoofing victim’s name. Sometimes this transaction can be done with the leaked credit card details, and sometimes they can impersonate the victim in order to get credit, money from people they know, or make debts on their behalf.

A spoofer can also monitor your activities, gain access to messages sent from your device, and even sell the data they obtain to other companies.

What are the types of spoofing?

Now that you know what spoofing is, it is important to understand that this type of attack can take many forms, from the simple to the complex. Here are a few of the main forms spoofing can take:

email spoofing

Probably the most typical model occurs when an attacker uses an email to trick the recipient into thinking the message came from a trusted source. Typically, this is done in one of two ways: by removing the sender field (so that it is not possible to know who sent it), or by disguising known addresses from unknown senders.

For example, a lowercase “l” and an uppercase “I” are practically impossible to identify in a sender’s address. This type of message can also be sent via SMS (known as “smishing”), or through social media messages and other channels.

spoofing website

Website spoofing occurs when an attacker uses elements of a known page to create a similar or virtually identical copy, often displayed within a context that makes sense.

The idea is for the victim to put their information into the impostor website so that it is intercepted by the attacker.

IP Spoofing

IP spoofing is one of the more sophisticated attacks, looking to mimic a more technical point. It’s probably a type of attack that the user’s rarely even see, as the goal is to trick the system itself.

For example, a network can be configured to authenticate users according to their IP address. If the attacker manages to disguise the IP and trick you, their access is easily granted.

DNS Spoofing

The idea of ​​DNS spoofing is similar to the previous one. As you may well know, DNS (Domain Name Server) is a system that helps you translate website addresses into IPs. With DNS spoofing, attackers are able to trick the system and redirect traffic to an IP they control.

A simple metaphor can make this example clearer: just imagine that DNS are the signs on the streets, which indicate where a driver needs to go. With spoofing, a criminal “swaps” the street signs, with the aim of taking drivers wherever they want.

Facial Spoofing

This is a different strand of spoofing, with a similar principle. More and more, facial recognition models are becoming popular (to unlock smartphones, for example). For this approach, it’s common for hackers to use photos or videos of the person, with the aim of tricking the system and pretending that they are indeed there.

Good artificial intelligence may offer protection here, because it will be able to identify whether a person is trying to access that system or not.

Spoofing on social networks

Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram and any other online service of the same category can also be used as a vehicle for spoofing.

In these cases, the victim has their account hacked, and cybercriminals use their profile or account to contact friends or family. Generally, these people simulate some emergency situation to ask for money, or they’ll announce products for sale (at extremely low prices) — but the products don’t even exist.

Telephone spoofing

Telephone spoofing calls can happen when someone impersonates a company or an institution over the phone. This usually happens through a service called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which is used to transmit online calls and spoof the number or name to be displayed on the caller ID.

So be suspicious when your cell phone shows a call with a certain name, but from some number or locale you don’t recognize

How can you detect spoofing?

Detecting spoofing yourself is possible, but as we’ve noted, it’s not necessarily easy. 

However, there are some signs that can help identify this type of attack.

Look for English and grammar errors in messages. These can be more serious grammatical errors, such as wrong words, or more subtle, such as certain inconsistencies or strange structures. 

Make it a habit to always check the links you are clicking or the email address of senders. Look for any unusual changes, however small. Look closely and compare the domain if you can. 

On smartphones, you can place your finger on links for a few seconds, so that a preview window of the content opens, as well as the link;

Note if your browser does not automatically fill in your information (if it usually does) Especially on a site you visit frequently, this may be an indication that you are on a spoof site instead.

Confidential information such as credit card numbers, passwords should only be shared on secure and encrypted sites using HTTPS at the beginning of the URL.

If an email looks sketchy, do a Google search for the content of the email itself. If it’s a known scam, it will likely turn up. 

Use the dfndr lab link checker. This is a free tool that tells you in a few seconds if a link is trustworthy or not.

How to protect yourself from spoofing?

Even if you follow all the tips above, protecting yourself can be hard to do. The big problem is that most folks won’t be able to closely observe all these details and stay aware on a daily basis.  And this is exactly what hackers count on.

Imagine someone who is going through an extremely busy day, doing a thousand things at once, who receives an email with these subtle changes. The chance of the person stopping to look and detect these errors is small. Hackers know that it is virtually impossible to be alert 100% of the time.

Of course, it’s best not to click on unfamiliar links or attachments coming from emails you’re not sure where they came from. However, as we mentioned throughout the post, the purpose of spoofing is precisely to disguise these attacks as something familiar and reliable.

Another big problem with modern companies is underestimating hackers. Attacks are no longer made by a single person wearing a hood, in a dark basement. There’s a lot of strategy and sometimes large organizations behind these hacks, resulting in attacks that are extremely sophisticated and very difficult to identify, as we have discussed in the examples above.

One option is to avoid clicking on direct links. For example, if you receive an email, an SMS (Short Message Service) or a call from your bank notifying you of a problem, avoid clicking on the link. Access the direct website or the app to confirm the information.

In cases involving social media intrusions or phone line cloning, it is important to be cautious when opting for two-step verification. Several applications already provide this option in their menu to enhance your security.

By creating extra phases for your login in communication apps, a spoofer will not have access to your message history (even if they have access to the confirmation code needed to login) and will certainly find it more difficult to hack your account.

Finally, it’s important to use some security solution (like dfndr enterprise) on your computer to make sure that the pages you access really are trustworthy. A software based on artificial intelligence will have more resources available to assess the security of your network, block potential threats, and protect your device before it becomes the target of an attack.

Did you learn something from this post? Now that you know what spoofing is and how to protect yourself from it, take the opportunity to subscribe to our newsletter. 

Then you’ll have access to more first-hand safety tips, right in your email!

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Caution Flags 

The radical simplicity and irresistible pull of the Coinbase spot was the talk of the post-game ad reviews. But out of the din of this discussion came another message — this one from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Inc Magazine’s Jason Aten pointed to a warning they had issued a month prior to the big game – the first lines lay out the situation quite clearly:

The FBI is issuing this announcement to raise awareness of malicious Quick Response (QR) codes. Cybercriminals are tampering with QR codes to redirect victims to malicious sites that steal login and financial information.

QR Codes Are Back, And Bigger Than Ever

Once again, it seems that bad actors have seized on a popular trend to help them do their dirty work. A simple technology dating back to the 90’s, QR Codes are on the rise lately – as they’ve become a very effective digital tool for marketers who want to quickly convert mobile phone readers into shoppers and buyers. The Wikipedia entry on QR codes gives you a quick grasp of just how powerful they can be when scanned on a mobile phone:

QR codes may be used to display text to the user, to open a webpage on the user’s device, to add a Card contact to the user’s device, to open a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), to connect to a wireless network, or to compose an email or text message.

All you have to do is think about how hackers might use that kind of power, and you can quickly see that indiscriminate scanning of QR codes could lead you into some serious trouble. 

Two Primary Sources of QR Code Danger

The first danger with malicious QR codes is the fact that they can transport you seamlessly to a fake website. As with most hacks, the first layer of the transaction seems to be legitimate: the QR code works! The user arrives at a site that has the offer or information they were seeking. 

And this is when many users will let their guard down, and fail to notice telltale signs that the site isn’t legitimate. Super-sweetened offers can also play a role in softening up otherwise careful users. The bad website can be a collection point for private information and financial data, and the path to financial losses and ID Theft is paved.

The second danger is QR codes that include malware themselves. Once again, let’s turn to the FBI for — “just the facts”:

Malicious QR codes may also contain embedded malware, allowing a criminal to gain access to the victim’s mobile device and steal the victim’s location as well as personal and financial information. The cybercriminal can leverage the stolen financial information to withdraw funds from victim accounts.

That’s about as bad as it can get. So, short of forsaking the use of all QR codes — how do you defend yourself?

What Can You Do?

Here are the five steps you can take – we discuss each below in more detail:

1. Get informed about what QR codes are and what they can do.
2. Make sure your device has good security software.
3. Use that security software regularly!
4. Before scanning any QR code, scan “the situation.” 
5. Make sure you land where you expected to!

You’ll be glad to know that you’re well on your way to completing the first step. We hope this article has helped in this regard, and if you want to get even more up-to-date on potential threats to you and your mobile device, we highly recommend these two companion articles:

Six Ways That Cybercriminals Try To Take Over Your Device – QR codes are covered here along with several other traps, like WiFi Honeypots, Fake Apps, and even Subtitles in Streaming Apps. Do give it a careful read – lots to learn here.

Can a QR Code Be Used In A Phishing Attack? – If you’ve followed us so far, you know the answer to this question is YES! But hit the link to get more information on how QR codes can bait the hook for hackers’ big Phishing expeditions.

Security Help

If you’re using dfndr security, make sure you activate the anti-hacking feature to protect you from scams and malware. dfndr security PRO plan also has a dedicated Safe App function to help sniff out apps that contain malware, and also provides complete Identity Theft reports should you suspect trouble.

Eyes Up!

But your awareness is always going to be your first line of defense. Remember that QR codes primary benefit is to help you connect to a specific spot on the web without your having to type in a URL. The “fun” of seeing this work is no doubt a major part of the success of that Coinbase ad. 

If you decide you do want to scan a QR code – make sure you can verify it’s from a trusted source, and take a good close look at the surroundings: the copy and design, the context of use. Is the code stuck on a wall outside a club? Or did it come to you via a traceable source like a mass mailing? If you can verify that the code is from a trustworthy source – make sure the landing spot is what you expected it to be.  

Just remember what your friends in the FBI told you: a QR code isn’t a game to be taken lightly — or a Pokemon type game where you have to capture and collect. They serve a very specific function, and they’re more powerful than they look. Treat QR codes with the same caution you’d give to any unknown app or web address.

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The ph prefix means that both are…well…phake.

But despite the cute names, the damage that can be wrought with either method is considerable. Identity Theft is the end game for many of these swindles, and as you may know, the long tail effects of ID theft can be personally devastating (and if you’ve never really experienced or read-about just how hard ID Theft can be for individuals, we highly recommend reading through that linked article. Not fun, but essential information).

While phishing attacks are made through phishy emails, pharming is the term applied when the hacker sets a trap in the form of a malevolent website: frequently, an impostor-site posing as a well-known and trusted company site. 

Pharming: Individual User Attacks

Phishing and pharming often go together – and the phishy email lures a single user to a malicious website, where the user enters their private information and the pharmer makes off with it, using it later to sow havoc by deploying it on the real site.  

Sometimes these sites are simply set up like traps on the web – you may have encountered one or more of these by simply misspelling the name of a popular site. The result may be a jarringly different site than what you expected. 

In truth these situations are relatively easy to avoid.  But sometimes the site you’re delivered to can be very close to what you expected, and that’s where real pharming trouble can begin.

Malware can drive pharming too – redirecting you to the substitute site without your awareness or permission. It’s important to remember that hackers are increasingly fond of using techniques of misdirection. You may inherit malware through a new app you download, but the consequences arrive later, when you first log on to your bank-site or try to pay your credit card bill, and the malware takes you to an impostor site to steal that information from you.

DNS Switching  

DNS switching takes the whole pharming idea to a more dangerous height. Whereas the malware or phishing-driven pharming operates at an individual user level, DNS Switching redirects all traffic to a given website to a pharmed-out impostor. 

The malware works within the DNS server and redirects requests to reach the authentic site to the pharming site. These more sophisticated attacks often involve more sophisticated fakery, and the pharming sites can be very convincing.

How To Protect Yourself, Down on The Pharm

As always, there are a few different layers of protection you can enlist to keep yourself from pharming — and the more of them you employ, the safer you’ll be:

Mindset: Your mindset as a user is one of the best defenses you have against hackers. Remember that hackers are fond of using social engineering – which some might refer to as “good old psychology” — to lure users into interactions with iffy emails, sketchy sites, and strange-people on well-known platforms. Keep your guard up, and if somebody, something, or some site asks you for information that your bank or health club or grocery-delivery (etc.) already should have, let that alarm bell go off loudly in your head. Then take three giant steps away from your keyboard. 

If your spider-sense has even an inkling that an email from a friend or a site isn’t the real deal: slow down and check it out. In general: try not to confer the trust you have in a person or company onto any representation made for them on the web. The web is…the web. And it should always be treated with caution.

Unprotected?: Public, unsecured wifi networks really are the devil’s playground.

The upshot is that public networks have chinks in their armour, and hackers use those chinks to “eavesdrop” on your conversations. Information they steal through this technical kind of listening can lead to direct attacks, or…down the road, a phishing or pharming attack tailored just for you. 

S matters: There’s a big difference between http:// and https:// — the difference is that “s,” which stands for secure. When you see the full https://, it means that information on both ends of the website transaction is encrypted and secure. When you don’t – that may not be the case. This is such a widely accepted standard now that the absence of that s should put you on high alert.  

Phishy?: If it looks or sounds phishy, it probably is. It might also be pharmy. Here’s an example of what we mean: in one of the biggest pharming attacks ever launched, a DNS Switching attack on more than 50 financial institutions, the affected users were presented with an error screen that asked them to switch off their anti-malware and any firewall protection they might be running. Many users simply complied, and provided access to the pharming malware to do the rest of the work. 

This obviously relates to our mindset discussion as well, but we wanted to emphasize that even very sophisticated pharming attacks will sometimes rely on users turning off systems of defense: whether it be their own mindset, or settings in place on their computer designed to protect them!

Speaking of Defense…  

Of course one of the essential bits of protective equipment is a good security software solution. dfndr Pro provides several excellent tools to help you protect not only your private information but your physical phone as well. Having that combination of protections is important. 

Pro also offers a Safe App function that enables you to screen any app you might want to try before downloading it, and that can be an excellent first line of protection from malware of all types – including those that are designed expressly to uh, ”take you down on the pharm.” 

With your mindset on high-alert, and your phone protected with a well-designed, and multi-layered security capability, you can move about confidently. Just be careful out there, and try not to get any mud on your shoes!

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The film tells the story of a conman who uses the Tinder app to insinuate himself into the lives of three female victims. In the film, Simon Leviev sets up elaborate romantic cons to appear as a wealthy diamond heir, then uses the trust he has gained to steal information, then money – only to use that money to fund the con for his next victim.

It’s a taut and dramatically told story, but without a clear moral or ending. (The New York Post has reported that Leviev has signed with a Hollywood agent, and “wants his own dating show.”)   

How To Stay Safe: Five Scammer Prevention Keys

But the moral for users of Tinder — and social media in general — are still the same: proceed with caution!  Below are a Five Keys to help you stay safe as you navigate dating apps like Tinder — they’re also useful guidelines for people you might meet on any other social app like Facebook:

• Do some research — and take your time. Before meeting in real life with anyone you’ve met online, take the time to do a little background research and find out if the person you’re speaking to is who they say they are. 

• Consider bringing a friend for the first date(s), and meet in public. Yes, this will keep you safer, and it might also help provide a more casual atmosphere where you can learn a little bit more about your new friend.

• Be sensitive about peculiar information requests. Spoiler alert: The Tinder Swindler orchestrated reasons to get Passport information, and then quickly put it to nefarious use. Whatever the reason given, a quick pivot to requests for detailed personal data is always a sure warning sign, especially in a new relationship.

• Keep your purse, phone, and ID’s close. Don’t overlook simple physical sources of data like these. Don’t leave them unattended. 
• If you have any suspicions, check in to things. If anything seems odd in terms of your interactions, don’t bury your head in the sand. A good security solution like dfndr security can help you track where your data is going and also protect your physical phone from theft. Stay on top of your bank and credit card accounts.

Remember: Most Scammers Don’t Do A Lot of Romancing

The Tinder Swindler is also a healthy reminder that most scams are not quite as elaborate as those cooked up by Simon Leviev.  But most scams operate on the same human emotions of romance and self-interest. 

Set some clear rules for yourself in the dating world – and also for when you’re answering emails and text messages — or when you’re looking for work on a job site.  If it looks too good to be true – it probably is! 

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Read More: 5 Tips to Determine if an Email is Actually a Phishing Scam

While you should still implement this type of authentication on all your accounts, protect yourself further with an antiphishing app that adds another layer of security to your device and data. With dfndr security, your phone will have an anti -hacking feature that protects your device and warns you of malicious links, blocks them, and prevents you from falling for phishing emails.

Here’s what you should know about the malware that can wipe two-factor authentication.

Not as Powerful as it Looks
Security researchers released a video that shows how easy it is to take over an account or someone’s personal information, even with this type of authentication. The video revealed a phishing email with a bit of code that can steal or compromise the login information of a user by placing the code into a login box.

Fraudulent LinkedIn Email
The phishing scam sends what appears to be a legitimate LinkedIn email showing that someone is trying to connect with them through the social media site. The researchers showed that if you look closely, the return address of the email is not correct as it’s actually a spoofed version of LinkedIn.

What Happens Next?
If the target falls for the phishing email and clicks the “interested” button, the malware will then be downloaded onto the victim’s device. The email then takes the victim to the real LinkedIn site where they log in their information to complete the connection process, including having the site send an access code to the account holder’s phone.

While this is going on, the malware in the background has gained control of the email and password linked with the victim’s account, along with the session cookie. The criminal can then use the victim’s information to log into their account, even without two-factor authentication and without the victim’s device.

Scary Stuff! What Should I Do?
Naturally, two-factor authentication will not help you at this stage, so the best thing you can do is download an antivirus app like dfndr security that has antiphishing technology, but don’t just leave it up to a security app, be sure to always check emails closely. The sender address, how the email is composed (language and punctuation), and the urgency level are some clues to whether or not an email is legitimate.

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Windows
A simple trick for Windows is to merely place your sensitive information within a folder and then mark the folder as ‘hidden,’ which will hide it within the file explorer. To hide a folder, right click on the folder and select the properties option. Once the properties dialogue is open, ensure there is a checkmark next to the hidden label – that’s all there is to this method! When you want to view that hidden folder, simply select the view tab within the file explorer and check the option to display hidden items.

Read More: 3 Private Messenger Apps That’ll Keep It Confidential

MacOS
The process isn’t as easy on Mac and does involve a bit of time in the Terminal application. If you’re unfamiliar with using Terminal, we suggest checking out a quick tutorial first. Start by opening the Terminal app from your Applications folder and navigate to the directory in which your folder is placed. Once you are within the proper directory type the following command, followed by the enter key,’ to hide the folder: “chflags hidden [name of folder].” For example, if we have a folder named ‘photos’ which we want to keep hidden, we would type: “chflags hidden photos.”

Android
Due to the open nature of the Android platform, one of the best options for hiding sensitive data is a third-party solution. One such option is dfndr vault, an app that easily allows you to create a hidden gallery of photos and videos; it even offers a feature known as applock, which can prevent access to certain apps by letting you add a secure passcode. No need to worry anymore about friends snooping around your Tinder profile or co-workers discovering embarrassing snapshots. Android users can also take advantage of dfndr performance, which has a ‘quick cleaner’ feature to remove any private information that might be in your device’s temporary files.

iOS
If you’re an iPhone or iPad user, you can choose to add your private photos or videos to a ‘hidden gallery’ built into the device. Simply visit your Photo app and navigate to the media you wish to hide, once there tap the share button (the square with the upward facing arrow), and select hide from the menu. The photo you just chose to hide will no longer be viewable from the main camera roll or any of the adjacent photo features. To view the private collection, head to your albums and locate the folder named Hidden. Sadly this option won’t keep the most curious of individuals out, but it will prevent any private images from popping up while scrolling through your camera roll.

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Read More: The Danger of Spoofed Websites: Learn to Tell the Difference

The best way to protect yourself from cyber threats is to ensure you download antivirus software on all your devices, your phone included. For Android users, we recommend dfndr security, which has a security scan feature that combs your entire device, even the SD card, and blocks viruses or malware.

How It All Began
A cyber drive-by attack wasn’t much of a threat in the early days, mainly it was used to gain free access to Wi-Fi. Hackers would drive by the streets of a town, locate a Wi-Fi signal and If the signal was insecure, they would hack through to siphon Internet.

How They Evolved
Now cybercriminals use this same practice but in more sophisticated ways. They often target badly secured routers and first figure out the router manufacturer. Once they’ve gotten that information, they’ll next tap in and listen to the traffic and find ways to compromise the password, which eventually gives them access to a computer or phone.

With all systems weakened, the next stage of an attack is to introduce malware or a keylogger, and once this happens, tapping into someone’s sensitive information is child’s play.

A keylogger can bait a victim by having them visit a legitimate website that’s infected through a popup or ad, or by slyly redirecting the person to an infected site. Information like bank accounts, logins, or social security numbers could be discovered and used in illegal ways.

Criminals are also targeting businesses with this type of attack, which requires no user interaction at all and depends on the vulnerability of a device or modem.

In other cases, cybercriminals use ‘man in the middle’ software, by having attackers spy on victims by setting up conversations between multiple parties.

Last Words and Tips
In addition to downloading a security app, individuals and companies should update devices regularly with the latest security patches and script blocking plugins. Additionally, businesses should ensure employees don’t have local administrative access to their devices. Set them up with a separate account instead.

Other measures to take include segmenting a company’s network so that everyone isn’t running on the same server, which ensures that malware doesn’t spread throughout an entire office.

Finally, all work and personal data should be backed up as frequently as possible on external hard drives or a cloud service, which should not be left connected to the main network.

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Read More: 5 Ways to Turbo Charge Your Smartphone’s Internet Speed

Read more to learn which 5 best apps your dad deserves on Father’s Day.

Get Dad to Download StubHub
One of the most popular apps of the last 5 years has been StubHub, which compares ticket prices from various websites in order to find your dad the best deal. Whatever his musical taste or favorite sport may be, StubHub can be tailored to find tickets for the right event on any given night. The app can be linked to your dad’s Spotify, plus it can connect to various e-payment platforms to ensure every transaction is hassle-free.

Help Dad Find His Dream Home
If your father is on the hunt for some new real estate, Zillow.com will help him find a more comfortable home for the entire family. The home search app has an intuitive and logical user interface to search for the ideal home based on your dad’s price range. It can also help him sell his current home by valuing properties in his neighborhood.

For the BBQ Hero of Your Life
If your dad loves to grill meats, check out hundreds of recipes on the Weber Grills app. Each recipe has step-by-step instructions, a built-in grill timer, and a grocery list feature to keep your father’s grilling days organized.

When Your Dad is Mad About Sports
Perhaps the hottest sports app at the moment is Bleacher Report, which offers timely scores and news in football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and just about any sport imaginable. The app can be programmed to fit your dad’s interests so he gets notified of the latest stats for his favorite teams.

Improve Your Dad’s Mobile Performance
The best app for optimizing your dad’s mobile device is dfndr performance, which has a quick cleanup feature that gets rid of old files that could be slowing down his phone. It also has an app manager function to remove unused apps he no longer needs. A memory booster feature can enhance his device’s RAM speed as well. After all, you have to help him make room for all these awesome apps.

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Read More: Which Android Apps Should You Be Locking?

If you want to keep curious individuals out of your Android phone, we recommend dfndr security’s applock feature. By creating a secondary passcode, you can quickly lock down apps that you don’t want anyone to access on your device. Whether your phone is stolen or you’re lending it to a friend, using applock can ensure your most important apps are off limits.

The concept of locking down apps, in general, might seem weird. You might be wondering, why bother doing this and on what occasions would you need to?

 Love Knows No Bounds in Your eBooks
We know, you love Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books; it’s the way she weaves vampire romance onto a page, but you don’t want your friends to discover her books’ in your Kindle app – not to mention all the detailed notes and highlights you took on Edward and Bella’s relationship. Be smart, lock your secrets away, but don’t delete the ‘undead’ passion.

Absolutely Not, You Can’t Buy That on Amazon
Kids seem to be born with an instant ability to understand technology, but that can sometimes have a downside. Keep those prying little fingers out of shopping and financial apps such as Android Pay or the Amazon Store. Sure, you want to make your kid happy, but how thrilled will you be when a $250 LEGO set shows up at your doorstep?

That Embarrassing Photo, ‘You Know the One’
It was late, you definitely lost count of the beers you were drinking and the number of karaoke songs you sang badly. Sure, you can look at the pics and laugh now, but your mother-in-law might beam a cold stare at you when she accidentally clicks on your photo gallery. Lock it all down, and hopefully, she won’t be curious to see what you were up to last Saturday.

Stop Your Friend From ‘Fixing’ Your Love Life
Anyone single can relate to dealing with ‘that person’ – the one who has made it their mission to put you in a relationship. Keep your privacy under wraps, and keep others from swiping left for you. After all, do you really need a date with another person that your friend finds absolutely ‘perfect?’ Maybe it’s time to “fire” your self-appointed matchmaker, because no, that guy in ripped camo shorts with the python probably isn’t your soulmate, no matter what your friend thinks.

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Begin Protecting Your Device
One way to start protecting your Android if manufacturers aren’t doing it is to use a reliable third-party app like dfndr security. Take advantage of a full virus scan feature and anti-hacking technology that fights any malware threats or phishing attempts. With 21 other great features included, you may not be able to control your manufacturer, but you can stay one step ahead of hackers.

Read More: What You Need to Know About Google’s Security Patch Record

According to the study, the manufacturers have been claiming within their devices’ settings that all security and system patches are up to date when they are actually behind. This practice of deceit not only leaves Android phones vulnerable but also calls into question the validity of a manufacturer’s security practices. In order to find the cleverly hidden lie, the firmware of many devices had to be carefully examined.

For Some, The Problem is Worse Than Others|
Companies with a mix of patched and unpatched devices or only behind by a single patch includes Google, Sony, Samsung, and Wiko Mobile. However, of those noted previously, companies HTC, Huawei, LG, Motorola, TCL, and ZTE are at least 3 or more patches behind. While Google is the company that issues patches for the Android operating system, it’s the responsibility of each manufacturer to deliver patches to their line of handsets accurately.

Some Light at the End of the Tunnel
Luckily, there could be a possible solution. Google has begun implementing a new project they have dubbed Treble. The project attempts to fix manufacturer patching issues by putting more control of Android’s core back into the hands of Google. What this means is your device could be updated as soon as a patch is released without having to wait for a manufacturer. While Treble has been included in Android 8.0 Oreo, not all devices currently support it. However, the good news is the project will be implemented on all Android devices moving forward.

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Read More: How to Prevent Identity Theft When You’re Online

As a parent, you should ensure that your children are protected from cybercrime. If they use your Android device frequently to play games, install antivirus software on your phone, like dfndr security. This AV-TEST approved app has a full virus scan feature that checks your mobile device for any malware or potential threats, eliminating them instantly. If your child is older and you’ve generously granted him or her with an Android, be sure they have dfndr security installed and have activated the full virus scan feature.

It can feel helpless on how to protect what’s most important to you, but knowing how this faceless enemy operates gives you the power to support your children as they grow up in the digital age.

The Stats on Child Identity Theft
Listen to these sobering stats. In 2017 alone, there were more than 1 million children targeted by cybercriminals. The stolen information was commonly used to extort money from parents. $2.6 billion in losses were caused by hackers who stole the data of children, regardless of age. Out of that $2.6 billion, families endured losses of approximately $540 million, while the rest was spent by the authorities and government.

While 60% of adults who fall prey to identity theft likely knows the perpetrator (a vengeful ex-partner or cousin, for example), only 7% of children were found to be connected to a perpetrator. Another shocking stat is that 11% of households in the U.S. reported that at least one child had personal information compromised in 2017. It’s also easier for criminals to target children because their parents are unlikely to check their child’s credit report.

The Tell-Tale Signs
The Federal Trade Commission outlines some ways your child’s identity may have been stolen. First, if your child is rejected for benefits because an account was already opened elsewhere, that’s a huge clue. Another example is if the IRS sends a notice claiming your child should have paid income taxes but didn’t, or you discover your child’s Social Security number appeared on another tax form — these are both red flags to pay attention to.

Additionally, if debt collectors begin calling regarding unpaid products and services that your child never purchased or used, this could be identity theft.

Don’t Feel Paralyzed; Get Proactive
Monitor your child’s phone or your own phone to ensure apps are locked down with parental controls, so only certain apps can be opened. It’s also important to have a conversation with your child about being prudent when sharing photos, videos, or any sensitive data with friends. Having an open, honest dialogue means your children are more likely to admit sharing the wrong information or experiencing oddities when using apps.

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Read More: Everything You Need to Know About the Huawei Mate 9

While there’s no concrete evidence backing these claims, a bill that bans the ownership of Huawei and ZTEA phones is being introduced by government officials with the intention of ‘protecting” the nation’s safety.

A Decade of Backlash in the U.S.
Back in 2008 and 2010, the U.S. government shut down bills that would have allowed Huawei to acquire U.S. telecommunications companies to further their business. Then, in 2012, an investigation conducted by the House Intelligence Committee found that Huawei and ZTE posed a threat to the national security of the U.S. government and stateside companies.

Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, co-introduced the aforementioned bill and held a panel where he asked U.S. government and law enforcement leaders about the perils of purchasing from Chinese manufacturers. FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed concern over allowing companies from foreign governments gaining positions of power in U.S. telecommunications networks, opening the door for these companies to modify or steal information.

Chinese Companies Seek to Expand in the U.S.
Huawei and ZTE have faced further resistance attempting to increase their shares of the U.S. smartphone market, including backlash from AT&T due to these claims. The carrier unexpectedly canceled its plans to roll out the Huawei Mate 10 Pro smartphone. Verizon followed suit, saying it wouldn’t sell any Huawei phones.

The two carriers may not sell smartphones from these companies but they still sell low-end ZTE phones. However, U.S. officials are still concerned as unlocked smartphones from Huawei and ZTE can be found at any major U.S. retailer.

Should I Be Worried?
Huawei responded to these claims by noting they aware that several U.S. government entities are attempting to inhibit them from entering the U.S. market. The company says it poses no threat than any ICT vendor and its devices are trusted by governments and customers in 170 countries worldwide.

While there’s no conclusive evidence to suggest that these phones are being used for  espionage or if it’s much ado about nothing, most security concerns from using ZTE and Huawei  stems more from potentially compromised apps or malware than anything else.

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Read More: Snapchat Users Subjected to Malicious Phishing Attack

The best way to fully protect your iOS device from being hit with a phishing attack is by using dfndr vpn, which blocks phishing attempts as you navigate the web, while also ‘hiding’ your IP address from hackers, so all your online activities remain private and secure.

Learn more about the holes in the iOS privacy icon and what you can do about it.

Data Collection
The latest iOS software update introduced a privacy icon, which helps you identify when Apple asks for more personal information. However, the update does not change the amount of data that Apple collects. Instead, the icon shows you what data will be collected when using an Apple app or feature for the first time. This new privacy feature is mostly useful for understanding how your app experience will be personalized through data collection.

However, phishing attacks may still be successful even after you update security features because your iCloud password could still be a target of hackers. Because your iPhone or iPad often asks you to confirm your username and password without indicating why, this vulnerability gives hackers the opportunity to inject malicious code and attain your information.

Protecting Yourself
If a legit looking pop-up appears on your iPhone asking for sign-in information, verify this prompt by clicking on the ‘home’ button. If doing so removes the pop-up, then it was a phishing scam because a true pop-up does not disappear after hitting the ‘home’ button.

You should also never enter your credentials through an app. Instead, exit the app and go to your iTunes account through Settings. Logins stay active for several minutes by default, so you should be able to open the app without authenticating yourself once you go through iTunes. That’s your clue if it’s legitimate or not.

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The hackers were able to access the system of both retailers through an online phishing attempt in which an employee likely opened a malicious email or web link. With access to sensitive information, employees are one accidental click away from causing a detrimental disaster. Here are some tips on being the best employee at your organization and keeping company secrets safe.

Follow Best Practices to Avoid Phishing
Let’s begin by tackling the misstep that led to Saks, Inc. and Lord & Taylor taking such a hard hit. Phishing attempts happen when a malicious individual attempts to gain your trust to obtain sensitive information. Two conventional methods of phishing can include having you actively respond to what you believe is a safe email or merely manipulating you into clicking on a dangerous link.

Read More: 5 Things You Can Do to Prevent Phishing Scams at Work

When receiving an email, be sure to note where the message originated from. On a computer, use your mouse to hover over the email’s ‘From’ field to view the full email address of the sender. You can accomplish the same on your smartphone by tapping on the ‘From’ field with your finger. Carefully gauge if the name of the sender matches a known email address. Hackers will try to create fake, but eerily similar email addresses of your colleagues to fool you. If the name and known email address don’t match up, there’s a chance you could be the target of a phishing attack. Be sure to contact your company’s IT department for further instructions.

Securely Lock Your Mobile Device
The amount of information we carry around on our smartphones can be surprising. In addition to your personal information, there’s a good chance that you might have a corporate email account on your device. Or perhaps, you may have direct access to critical systems. For those reasons alone, it’s vital to protect your smartphone with a password or pin code. Avoid using memorable dates, repetitive patterns or other easily guessable information when securing your device.

Increase Your Device’s Security
It can be challenging to ensure your device remains wholly secure and unaffected by malicious malware – after all, we’re only human. Your best defense is using a third-party solution to keep an eye on your device at all times. An app such as dfndr security has an anti-hacking feature, which alerts you to malicious websites before you even click on a link. Helping yourself with some personal security can aid your professional life, and hopefully, your proactive steps will win you an “employee of the year” award.

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While there’s not much you can do about data breaches that happen from the services you use, since it’s up to each company to fix these security holes, there are steps you can take to protect your phone from sharing private information with apps.

Read More: Protect Your Personal Information When Using Public Wi-Fi

Here are 4 ways you can protect yourself from getting hacked, targeted for ads, and exposing your personal data for companies to collect.

Be Vigilant With Your Apps
One of the best ways to protect your data is to audit your apps, which can help you learn which apps are connected to your social media sites. Checking your privacy settings for Facebook, Google, and Twitter can help you see which apps are linked to those accounts.

On Facebook, go to the top-right corner, hit the down arrow, click Settings and check the Apps tab. Here you can choose which apps retain access of your personal information. In Google, go to Settings and hit “Connected apps & sites,” and on Twitter, you go to “Settings and privacy” and hit the Apps page. At that point, you can minimize which apps are linked to each social account.

Delete Old Apps
If there are some old games and apps you’re no longer using that are still hanging around, make sure to delete them. By getting rid of them, these apps will not be able to collect any additional personal information about you, along with all the data stored within them.

Change Your Password Every 6 Months
Another good rule of thumb is to change your password every 6 months to keep passwords fresh and prevent hacking attacks targeted at you. If someone manages to get their hands on your hashed password, they’ll be able to use decryption methods to attain the full password. You could change your passwords more often than every 6 months, but make that the minimum amount of time to update your passwords.

Read Privacy Policies
Some apps may have lengthy privacy policies, but these are worth reading because they give you a solid idea how much data each app shares or guards. If you need to connect your personal data to the app, make sure the app comes from a reliable source and you know exactly how much information it’s gathering.

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Read More: Is WhatsApp Using too Much Space on Your Phone?

Using dfndr performance’s WhatsApp cleaner is one way to streamline your connections. The app can help you get rid old files such as videos, audio messages, GIFs, and images that no longer serve you. Besides considering a good cleaner app, there are many ways to use WhatsApp more effectively.

Focus On Why You’re Using the App
If your WhatsApp has plenty of messages that you haven’t touched, try to decide what’s priority and why you’re using the app. If you have business obligations and you’ve got personal messages, focus on your business needs before turning your mind to home-mode. Likewise, if you’re out with friends, don’t use WhatsApp to discuss business.

Get Rid of Automatic Downloads
While it may be tempting to check out every funny image, video, or GIF that comes your way, change your settings so you can filter them. With WhatsApp, you can choose to turn off automatic downloads, which helps block random messages that contain images from people you don’t know very well. Beware: a message that only has an image and no text could be malware.

Response Time On Replies
You don’t need to open every message that comes your way, but when you do open one, answer it right away because you might forget to later on. Plus, if the person on the other side sees the ‘read’ receipt, they may think you’re ignoring them rather than saving the conversation for later. Be proactive, but also be picky about what messages you open.

Last Tips and Tricks
Sending a message to multiple people is easy, all you have to do is click the ellipsis and choose to broadcast a message, and then decide who to broadcast to. You can also reduce data usage if you’re in another country or in a low-data zone by clicking ‘low data usage’ in your WhatsApp settings. Plus, you can mute chats and groups that are too noisy at any given point.

Heed these practical tips and you’ll be on the right path to communicating effectively with your friends and family on WhatsApp.

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One way to ward off malicious apps is to download a third-party security app such as dfndr security, which includes a full-virus scan feature. A scan of your Android device will do a deep dive into your files and even your SD card. Worried that you might forget to scan your phone regularly? Not a problem, just use scheduled scans which can run while you’re asleep.

Read More: Is it Safe to Download Apps Outside of Google Play?

In this latest case of infected apps, a piece of malware known as ‘Andr/HiddnAd-AJ’ (try to say that ten times fast) was able to load itself onto a number of apps designed to read QR-Codes. Apps infested with the malware included: QR Code / Barcode Reader, QR Code Free Scanner, and QR & Barcode Scanner. There were a total of seven apps infected, and the malicious apps were downloaded over 500,000 times before being pulled by the Google Play Store.

We know how hard it can be to avoid malware in a world filled with it, but here are a few tips to get you started on a safer journey through the endless world of Android apps.

Download Only Official Sources
We’re aware that this point may appear moot as we noted that the infected apps came from the official Google Play Store, but even though an official source may not be 100% clean, it’s still much safer than downloading an app elsewhere. Despite missing the occasional piece of malware, Google has quite a positive record of keeping their ecosystem clean from the mess.

Avoid Apps From the Web
As you can infer from our last comment, you’re best to avoid downloading apps directly from the Internet or something you found on social media. These apps are more likely to be infected with dangerous malware and are typically prefaced with a request to turn off a security feature to allow app installations from ‘unofficial sources.’ Take this as an immediate red flag and don’t download.

Watch Those Permissions
Once you’ve downloaded an app from an official source such as Google Play or Amazon App Store, try to remain aware. Legitimate apps ask for permissions to access certain parts of your system. In some circumstances, this is normal but use your best judgment. A new email app would request access to your contacts, but why would a QR-Code reader need the same?

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Read More: How to Analyze Junk Files on Your Smartphone?

A good way to protect yourself from these situations is with dfndr performance’s Facebook Messenger cleaner feature, which allows you to delete old conversations and files. Here’s what you should know about Facebook’s recent debacle and the information they gathered while you weren’t paying attention.

Your Data Has Been Known for Years
New Zealand-based programmer Dylan McKay was among the first to discover that Facebook was all up in his business. He sent out a tweet that revealed a downloaded ZIP file from the social media site, containing complete logs of his outgoing calls, incoming calls, and SMS. Other users followed suit by reporting similar discoveries that raised hard questions on how much privacy you really have on Facebook.

Facebook Claims “We Keep You Connected”
A spokesperson for Facebook responded to McKay’s claims by saying that the company has been uploading the contact data of its users in order to make it easier for people to remain connected, much like other social media sites. This was especially true with old Android phones, which had looser permissions on what information Facebook could attain from your digital interactions.

Because these permissions weren’t as strict, the Facebook app removed restrictions at the time of installation that normally protects phone logs and SMS data. Google eventually made changes to ensure that users are notified of what type of information they’re willing to share with Facebook and what data they’d like to keep to themselves.

The Network Found a Way Around This Privacy
Even after Google changed the privacy permission settings, independent developers found a workaround and still collected SMS and phone data until the launch of Google 4.0 on the Android API last October. You can check your call and SMS logs on the Facebook app by clicking on Settings>Download. To grab a copy, go to Facebook data>Start My Archive. You can turn on the Facebook continuous upload setting on the Messenger app if you’d like to protect your privacy.

Protect Yourself With a Security App
With dfndr performance’s Facebook Messenger cleaner, you can delete old files in your chats, including videos, audio messages, GIFs and images shared on Messenger. You can choose a date range to decide how much data you’d like to get rid of — an easy fix to keep your personal information safe.

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Email Recovery, So Simple
Almost all websites and apps provide a method to recover your password via an email address. If you forget a password, the system will send an email to the address you provided to register. Once you access the email, you can quickly update your password to something more memorable. It’s important to note with this method, that anyone who has access to your email inbox could potentially reset the majority of your passwords. Stay safe and first ensure that your email account is well secured.

Read More: How to Use a Password Manager Securely on Android

Your Smartphone Might be an Option Too
Some websites also request you submit a phone number when signing up for their service. It’s imperative that you enter a real number and not a fake one. If the day comes when you forget your password having a code texted to your device might be your only failsafe. Again, with the power to reset passwords, it’s vital to keep your phone locked down with a secure passcode.

Those Good Ol’ Security Questions
One option that isn’t so safe is the old-time tradition of security questions. In the event that you lose or forget your password, you can re-enter a number of personal questions that you provided the answers to when you first signed up for a service. Many individuals pick easy to answer questions that anyone could know – meaning that anyone could reset your password if they know a bit about you. If you opt to use this method, ensure the questions are unique to you and not common knowledge.

Getting Locked Out of Two-Factor Authentication
Setting up two-factor authentication is a superb way to keep hackers out of your account even if they discover your password, but there are flaws. If you were to lose your authentication device, this could be a potential problem. Bypassing two-factor once you forget it is a tricky ordeal and typically there’s only a single method to help you here. When you sign up for most two-factor systems, they’ll provide you with a list of ‘backup codes.” It’s essential that you keep these codes somewhere safe as they can unlock your account if you find yourself between a rock and a hard place.

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Here’s why overcharging your phone is a no-no and could have lasting negative effects.

Read More: Why Does Your Phone Notify You When It’s Fully Charged

Avoid ‘Trickle Charges’
Most modern phones are equipped with lithium-ion batteries and charging capabilities that are more efficient than regular rechargeable batteries. This means that once they reach 100%, your charger will stop fueling your device. However, if you leave your phone charged overnight, it will lose bits of battery here and there, resulting in “trickle charges” that ensures your device stays at 100%.

Constantly charging your phone over the course of hours slowly reduces battery life capacity, so it’s wise to avoid this practice. Having a high voltage will stress the battery unnecessarily.

Other Smart Charging Practices
You also shouldn’t wait until your device reaches 0% to charge because that can harm the battery. To optimize battery life, wait until the battery is down to around 35% to 40% before charging. Also, consider replacing your phone every few years to avoid dealing with these issues. if you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford to buy a phone that frequently, the right charging practices can add mileage to your current phone.

Choose the Right Adapter and Charger
When shopping for a charger, you can learn a lot about how it will affect your phone based on the amp rating. The ideal rating is 5.0V->1A, which refers to how quickly your phone will charge; higher amp ratings charge faster, while lower ones charge slower. With a 1A charger, your phone will charge at the optimal speed to help keep your battery life strong in the long term.

Get Performance-Enhancing Software
Finally, the right app can ensure that your phone fires on all cylinders. With dfndr performance’s total charge feature, you’ll be notified when the charging process is complete and can unplug your phone. The feature also has a charger monitor screen that activates once you connect to a charger, letting you know how long a full charge will take.

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Read More: 5 Phishing Scams You Need to Pay Attention to

Don’t Just Use 1234
This may seem like an obvious step, but for some, it’s the last thought and often neglected. You might be tempted to think, ‘I have nothing of value on my device’ or ‘no one wants what I have,’ but you’re underestimating what you carry. Even something as simple as your email account can be used to send spam or malicious material to your contacts.

Take the time to create a secure passcode; many smartphones now offer fingerprint verification, which is unique to you and no one else. For a passcode, four digits is a decent length, but six digits are quickly becoming the new standard. Avoid repetitive numbers or easy to guess combinations – ‘0000’ and ‘1234’ are not valid options.

Use Cloud Backups for Those Puppy Photos
Your data might be safe and secure behind a passcode, but what happens to all your photos and videos? Memories from nights out with friends and special occasions could all be lost in the blink of an eye. Don’t let forgetting your phone in an Uber mean that you need to lose a world of personal memories.

No matter your smartphone platform, you can utilize a service such as Google Photos to always keep your photos backed up. A free service available for both Android and iOS, Google Photos allows you to backup all your pictures to a single, centralized location. Lose your device? No worries, merely download the app to your new device, and your memories are back.

Add an Extra Layer of Frosting to Sensitive Apps
While a passcode is a good way to keep thieves from accessing your phone’s content, it’s only one layer of security. Consider adding another step to protecting your apps, like an Applock. This type of feature allows you to lockdown specific apps with a secondary password.

Apps that carry sensitive information, such as your bank account, can be configured to have a second password, even if your device is already unlocked. Secondary lock applications also come in handy if you need to temporarily give your phone to a friend and don’t want them having rogue access to everything on your smartphone.

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Read More: Deactivating vs. Deleting Your Facebook Account

To help keep you safe and secure while connecting with friends and family across the world, check out these smart social media tips.

Begin Here… A Simple Privacy Checkup
Facebook has a convenient feature built into their website known as ‘Privacy Checkup’; it can be accessed by clicking on the question mark bubble in the upper right-hand corner of the screen – adjacent to the ‘logout’ drop-down menu. In 3 easy steps, you can check who sees your posts, what external apps have access to your data, and what personal information shows up on your profile.

Lock Down Your Timeline and Tagging
A big tip: consider controlling the type of content that’s posted on your timeline, along with what posts you’re tagged in. To access these settings, select the drop-down arrow in the upper right-hand corner of the Facebook site, select the ‘Settings’ option, then select the ‘Timeline and Tagging’ option. Here you can finetune who are allowed to post content on your wall and if you prefer to be tagged in posts or not.

Reconsider That Selfie
A general rule to consider, despite your Facebook privacy settings, is to treat everything you post as though anyone could view it. Remember, sharing something with your friends doesn’t mean they can’t take that info and redistribute it elsewhere.

Two-Factor Authentication is Painless
An easy way to make your Facebook account more secure is to set up two-factor authentication. This option can be found under Facebook Settings and then ‘Security and Login.’ Enabling this option means that anyone attempting to log in to your account (including yourself), will be prompted to enter not only a password but also a one time code that’s sent via SMS text message or generated from the Facebook mobile application. Even if a potential intruder has your passcode, they won’t be able to gain access without your specific, personal device containing the one-time passcode.

Clamp Down on Security Overall
Besides accessing your account from the web, another possible breach is if someone gains physical access to your phone. If you want to take your security even further, you can add a secondary passcode to your social apps by using dfndr security, which has a social guardian feature. Choose which social apps you wish to protect, create a complicated passcode, and you’ll be set. Should your phone land in the wrong hands, your social media connections will be inaccessible.

Facebook is one of the greatest tech inventions to grace society, and with these tips, you’ll have the freedom to use its benefits to the fullest.

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But if you’ve had enough, whipping your smartphone back into shape is simple and that’s where dfndr performance can help. With a quick cleanup feature, your junk files can be removed with ease by scanning your SD card, trash, cache, and temporary files to free up space on your device.

Let us show you why those files are slowing your Android device down and how to take care of it quickly.

Why Your Phone Seems So Dang Slow
A vital question to first address is wasn’t your smartphone designed to store a high number of files and photos? In short, yes, your smartphone is indeed equipped to handle a specific number of files. Smartphone manufacturers release different models that vary in capacity, so it’s always important to make a selection based on how much data you plan to store. However, a bit of extra room should still be available for the phone system itself.

Read More: These 5 File Types Are Using up All of Your Phone’s Memory

When you choose a function on your phone, such as opening an app or shooting an HD video, your device needs extra space to process temporary information.The system needs to search for somewhere it can save data as it works, so if space is limited, the system might be fighting other apps that also need storage on your device.

When your smartphone saves a photograph or video, it must first be split up into different pieces. Your phone’s internal memory does not always have free areas right next to one another on the disc. As a result, your device may cut up data into smaller pieces and spread it around as it sees fit. This process can cause what is called “fragmentation”, which slows down your device as it attempts to find all the various pieces it needs.

Be Proactive About That Deadweight
If you’re worried about the state of your smartphone, start cleaning out any old, duplicate photos that you might have. Old applications that you no longer use might also be taking up quite a bit of space. Take the time to take care of your smartphone, and in return, it will provide a speedy and quick experience when you most need it.

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Perhaps it’s time to opt for a storage app like dfndr vault, which allows you to lockdown apps, keep photos or videos private by encrypting them and saving them to a cloud storage of your choice. You can even add an extra layer of privacy with biometric recognition.

If you want to ensure your photos and videos stay safe for specific eyes only, here are a few suggestions:

Delete Extra Content
Start by making your tracks less noticeable. Delete any duplicate intimate photos or videos that may be stored on your smartphone. Sure, this won’t necessarily hide any of your content away, but having a single picture of a moment beats having 7 different snapshots scattered in your library. Just as you should keep your phone clean and tidy, be sure to delete duplicates to reduce your NSFW footprint.

Read More: Protect Your Private Photos in a Private Gallery

Disable Google Photo Sync
Android devices include a nifty feature that will automatically backup your photos and videos to the cloud once you connect to Wi-Fi. These backups can be performed to iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive. While an excellent solution for making sure your favorite holiday photos are stored, if your smartphone houses a mini boudoir you may not want the service active. To disable having your photos automatically backed up to the cloud, head to your device’s settings and locate ‘Auto Backup,’ there you can disable the backup functionality that may give away your little secret to the cloud.

Hide Your Photos Deep Within
If you don’t mind getting a bit technical and opening up a file manager on your device, you can create a hidden folder for storing NSFW content. Open your file manager of choice, create a new folder with a name that begins with a period (.), and move all of your photos and videos to this new location. The Gallery app on Android will ignore any folders that begin with a period, so this is a clever way to keep your private photos out of the main photo app – simply use the file manager to access the images.

Add That Secure Passcode
Finally, and we repeat it all the time, add a secure passcode to unlock your device. Merely head to ‘Settings’ and seek out your ‘Unlock Security’ settings. We recommend avoiding easy to guess pattern or pins. Try utilizing a code that is at least six digits, doesn’t repeat, and isn’t a combination that’s easy to guess – such as your birthdate.

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An excellent way to start is to secure your device from becoming infected by malware. Most cases of the Fakebank malware occurred from downloading software from third-party app markets and through social media. dfndr security’s full virus scan feature ensures that all files and programs on your Android’s internal memory or external SD card are entirely secure. 

Read More: What You Need to Know About Online Banking

Of course, being protected is also about practicing basic security guidelines in your day to day smartphone habits. Here are a few tips you can follow to prevent your device from becoming infected by malware such as Fakebank.

Download From Reputable App Stores
Most malicious apps do not come directly from the official Google Play Store but from other questionable third-party markets. Worse yet, some applications are downloaded directly from the web due to receiving a link on social media or within an email. Make sure you only download from reputable sources such as Google Play or the Amazon App Store.

Dole Out App Permissions Carefully
When you install an application, it may ask you for specific permissions to access parts of your phone. Fakebank takes advantage of a permission setting in some Android versions called ‘System Alert Window,’ allowing the app to display an official message that appears to be from your phone itself. Before accepting any permissions for apps you download, use your best judgment to determine what an app truly needs to access in order to function.

Make Sure Your Bank Security is Updated
Lastly, although not entirely related, be sure that your bank account security is adequately set up. While Fakebank does have an ability to intercept SMS two-factor messages, it still doesn’t hurt to set the feature up to protect yourself against other types of malware. Also, check with your bank to see if you can receive emails alerts for any suspicious logins.

Follow these bits of advice, and you should be just a tad safer from malicious malware like Fakebank.

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